January 22, 2011

Once in ancient India, a young student named Shankara wandered from city to city looking for a teacher of wisdom who could help him on his path to enlightenment. Along the way, a great Swami named Govindapada Acharya recognized the brilliance of this young boy of 8 years.

But first, the Swami decided to test Shankara by asking him a deceptively simple question: "Who are you?" In response, the boy replied in six verses of improvised poetry. Today these verses are known as the Nirvana Shatakam - or The Six Verses of Liberation.

2.Neither can I be called energy, nor life-breath,nor the bodily matter (fluid, blood, muscle, fat, bones, marrow, tissue)nor the layers of being (from physical to mental to spiritual).Neither am I physically involved in elimination,

3.I have no hatred or dislike,no affiliation or liking,no greed, nor delusion,no pride or haughtiness,no feelings of envy or jealousy.I have neither duty, nor wealth,nor desire, nor even need for liberation.I am indeed,That bliss born of true knowledge, Shiva:love and pure formless awareness.

4.I have neither merit, nor demerit.I do not have happiness or sorrow,pain or pleasure.I do not need mantras, pilgrimages,scriptures, rituals or sacrifices.I am neither the one who observes,

the process of observing, or object being observed.

I am indeed,That bliss born of true knowledge, Shiva:love and pure formless awareness.

5.I do not have fear of death,as I do not have death.I have no separation from my true Soul,no doubt about my existence,nor have I discrimination on the basis of birth.I have no father or mother, nor did I have a birth.I am not the relative, nor the friend,

I am without any attributes, and without any form.I have neither attachment to the world, nor to liberation.I have no wishes for anything because I am everything,everywhere, every time, always in equilibrium.I am indeed,That bliss born of true knowledge, Shiva:love and pure formless awareness.